The protest by casual workers of Sumal Foods Limited in Ibadan, Oyo State, which started on Monday afternoon, continued on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, as the workers set bonfire and barricaded the road, preventing vehicular movement.
As early as 7:30 a.m. when I was on my way to my work place, the angry workers barricaded the road that leads to the Oluyole Industrial Estate of the city, setting bonfire on a part of the road.
The casual workers, who started the protest on Monday, were said to be angry over the alleged terrible working conditions, citing inhumane treatment and poor renumeration as reason for taking the action.
(Caption): Scenes of the protest on Tuesday morning.
It was gathered that the matter escalated and took a violent dimension on Monday evening when report got to them that security operatives invited by the company's management to prevent destruction of property allegedly shot a casual worker dead.
Following the development, the casual workers became enraged and set fire on a facility on Monday, but the fire was quickly quelled through the prompt action of fire service officers from the company.
However, residents of Oluyole Estate as well as motorists passing the road that leads to the company were, on Tuesday morning, faced with a barricade mounted by the workers as well as bonfire set by them which made the road impassable.
Motorists going to their places of work had to seek alternative routes which led to massive traffic bottleneck on those routes.
By the time I left the scene of the protest, many of the protesting casual workers were seen surrounding the barricade and preventing people from passing.